Racing Community Rallies for Tyler

By admin April 8, 2014 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, NASCAR WMT, Thompson

The local racing season began this weekend, but Sunday was an important day beyond competition. Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park hosted a special guest for Fan Appreciation Day. Tyler Seddon, a seven-year-old racing fan battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, attended the driver’s meeting as a guest of General Manager Josh Vanada. The Fan Appreciation Party was dedicated to him and teams put a special decal on their cars.

A crew member with Jeff Malave for many years, Dan Grenier of Pascoag, RI created Tyler’s Racing Troops in the wake of a good deed. Tyler received national attention last month when over 1,000 emergency personnel responded to a birthday request by visiting him in Burrillville, RI.

“I am very ignorant when it comes to my community,” Grenier said. “I do not watch television. I do not read the papers. One day I just happened to hear about Tyler. … I read his story, what firefighters, police (officers), and EMTs did for him across the country on his birthday. It opened up my eyes to my community. I only live five houses away from Tyler and I never knew about (it). His story broke my heart. I wanted to help out. That’s why I communicated with the staff members at Thompson and ask(ed) them if we could do something for Tyler at the Icebreaker. By then, (I) started Tyler’s Racing Troops, invited all my friends to join the page and show Tyler support. My slogan for the page is building a smile turn by turn track to track.”

By the end of the day, another driver had a gift for Tyler. NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour winner Justin Bonsignore donated his trophy.

“I received a message from Justin same to come back to his car hauler,” Grenier said. “I had already been home so I drove back to Thompson and boy did I get a surprise. Justin wanted to give Tyler the winning trophy. I was in total awe, speechless. (It) brought tears to my eyes.”

“Tyler had already gone home for the day,” Grenier said. “(It was) just too much excitement for him. I picked up the trophy, took pictures with the winning team, (and) drove to Tyler’s house to deliver it.”

“When I started Tyler’s Racing Troops, it was just a one day event that hopefully I could bring a smile to his face and no worries to his family,” Grenier said. “Boy did this thing blow up.”

“There have been a lot of warm wishes and a lot of people interacting with Tyler around the world but to actually start a racing Facebook page for Tyler is just something a little different,” Grenier said. “I wanted him to experience the racing family that I have grown with and loved for many years.”

Driver Norm Wrenn, III is committed to the cause. He will donate all of his winnings this season. He also “has secured many raffle baskets with proceeds going to Tyler amongst other gifts.”

According to Grenier, Tyler’s attendance at future events will depend on doctor’s approval.

“He is a tough little boy,” Grenier said. “… This story has a meaning. That meaning is happiness. That’s why I did it.”

 Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com